Hamilton handling struggles ‘like a true champion’

Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton has been handling his difficult start to the season “like a true champion”.

Hamilton has failed to win a race since securing last year’s drivers’ championship, with team-mate Nico Rosberg now having won six in a row. In China an ERS problem forced Hamilton to start from the back of the grid and he was only able to finish seventh, but Mercedes boss Wolff is impressed with the way the triple world champion has reacted to his problems.

“We may have made a solid start - but at this stage it's about collecting points without looking too much at the Championship,” Wolff said. “We are just three races down with eighteen still to go. I have no doubt that we will see a close fight on all fronts right up to the end of the season.

“Both drivers are a good place mentally. Nico is on great form but keeping his feet firmly on the ground. Lewis would have every right to feel disheartened by his start to the season - but he is calm and confident, handling adversity like a true Champion.”

Hamilton himself admits it would be easy for him to let his head drop but says his experience has helped him deal with the difficulties.

“There was plenty going through my head after China, as you'd expect,” Hamilton said. “But, after all these years, experience has taught me to stay calm and keep pushing forwards when I get knocked back. I've been here before a few times now.

“A lot can happen over the next eighteen race weekends and I have the utmost confidence in this team. But adversity is part of the journey: it brings us closer, makes us stronger and I know that together we'll bounce back, so I'm confident of better weekends to come.”

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